Syracuse football players work out with Fort Drum soldiersThe Syracuse University football team began their four-day training camp at Fort Drum on Tuesday August 12, 2014 with a training exercise with the military personnel. The players and soldiers started with basic stretches before going thru an intense aerobics workout. The session was led by SU strength and conditioning coach Will Hicks. Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com

Fort Drum, N.Y. — At the end of their morning training session, the Syracuse football players and Fort Drum military members circled up and cheered raucously inside the ballroom of the community activity center.

For most of the four days the Orange will spend in Fort Drum, it will be learning from military personnel. But during the physical training session on Tuesday, SU strength and conditioning coach Will Hicks flipped the script.

"Part of the reasoning behind Coach (Scott) Shafer wanting us to be here is the interaction," Hicks said. "We have a military interaction every day The next two days we're kind of going to do stuff on their terms, so today we did a little something on our terms.

Hicks led an intimate warm-up stretching routine and light abdominal workout, shouting out commands as he walked through about two dozen rows of participants. Before each new drill, a Syracuse player would demonstrate and the other players and military personnel alike would cheer and clap.

Dyshawn Davis at Fort DrumSyracuse linebacker Dyshawn Davis discusses early impressions at Fort Drum and working out with military members

As the routine moved forward, Hicks adjusted forms and provided pointers to a number of the soldiers.

"Great form. You could be a tight end," he quipped at one.

Syracuse senior linebacker Dyshawn Davis said he felt the two groups bond during the activity. After the session was over, one of the military members joked around with him about who had better form in a couple of the drills.